Vacuum tube



Dc. 19, 1922. 1,438,969. L. R. SPENGEIVIAN.

VACUUM TUBE.

FILED SEPT 17, 1918.

I I (0 X /46)\ 7 //71/e/1f0/ Lawrence Spa/gammy.

Patented Dec. 1%, i922.

Wire STATES LAWRENCE R. SPENGEMAN, OE JERSEY CITY, NEW JEnsEY, AssreNOR To wEsTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

Application filed September 17, 1918. Serial No. 254,495.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE R. SPENoE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Tubes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to electric lamps and particularly to means for supporting the filaments therein. Its Object is to provide a filament support which, in addition to supporting the filament, will apply thereto sufficient tension to prevent vibration thereof, and will also maintain the proper space relation of the filament with respect to any other parts of the lamp which may be positioned therein.

This inventioni-s particularly applicable to vacuum tubes in which a plurality of electrodes are used such as a filament, a plate and a grid, the space relations between which must be maintained constant, in order that the proper operation of the device will result. v

The invention comprises an insulating block positioned near the upper end of the lamp, from which extends a spring wire in a curve to a point beneath said block where the spring is connected to the filament. Between the point of the block from which the spring wire extends and the point of connection with the filament, the spring wire is given one or more twins in the form of a pigtail twist to give it an added spring effect.

The figure shows a lamp of the vacuum tube type as adapted to employ this invention.

As shown, the lamp comprises an evacuated' bulb l-to which a base portion 2 is attached. Within the base 2 and extending partly into the bulb portion 1 is a glass support Or squash portion 3. Through this squash 3 are led the various leading-in wires to the various electrodes. Attached also to the squash 3 are the lower ends of two of filament 7 from a wire (not shown) which extended from below the block 6 and was welded to the metal portions of the plates 4 and 5 which extend beneath said block 6. To avoid this weld and to provide a more resilient support for the filament a wire 8 is provided according to the present invention, which extends from the upper surface of the insulating block 6. This block 6 is held in 'place by ears 9 and 10 bent over the block 6. The wire 8 is-provided with one or more turns 11 therein to add resiliency thereto and extends inwardly by portion 12 to connect to the upper end of the filament 7. A grid 13 is provided and is supported from block 6 by wires 14 and 15. The lower ends Of the grid, filament and plates are shown connected to leading-in wires from the squash 3, numbered 16, 17 and 18 respectively. As current is applied to the filament 7, any tendency to vary the tension thereof due to expansion with current is counteracted by the spring support. 7

By means of this arrangement, therefore, the filament is maintained under a constant tension whereby vibration is avioded, its proper space relation is maintained, and unnecessary welding of parts is eliminated.

' The large free curve of the supporting Wire affords greater resiliency and more ready adjustment.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum tube, a filament, a support for said filament comprising an insulating block near .the end of said tube and beyond the filament. a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending therefrom around said block and connecting with the filament on the near side of said block.

2. In a vacuum tube, a filament, a support for said filament comprising an insulating block near one end of said tube and beyond the filament, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending around said block and connecting with the filament on the near side of said block, said wire having one or more turns in it intermediate its ends.

3. In a vacuum tube, a filament, a support for said filament comprising an insulating block near one end of said tube and beyond the filament, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending around said block and connecting with the filament on the near side of said block, said wire having one or more turns in it at the pointwhere it begins to bend'inwardly across the near side of said block.

4. In a Vacuum tube comprising an evacuated vessel having a base portion attached thereto, a glass squash in said base portion and extending into said evacuated vessel, a plurality of electrodes within'said vessel, one

of said electrodes having at its outer end a socket portion adapted to contain an insulated block, a resilient wire extending from the outer surface of said block and around the same in a free curve and inwardly across the near side of said block and connected at its end to another of said electrodes to support and tension the same.

5. In a vacuum tube comprising an evacuated vessel having a base portion attached thereto, a glass squash in said base portion and extending into said evacuated vessel, a

' plurality of electrode within said vessel, one of said electrodes having at its outer end a socket portion adapted to contain an insulating block, a resilient wire extending from the outer surface of said block and around the same in a free curve and inwardly across the near side of said block and connected at its end to another of said electrodes to support and tension the same, said wire having one or more turns therein at the point where it begins to bend inwardly across the near side of the block.

7 6. In a vacuum tube comprising an evacuated. vessel having a base portion attached thereto, a glass squash on said base portion and extending into said evacuated vessel, a

plurality of electrodes Within said vessel, onev of said electrodes being attached to said glass squash and extending along said vessel and having at its outer end a socket portion adapted to contain an insulating block, a resilient wire extending from the outer surface of said block and around the same,

from around said block, said wire being connected to said filament. i

8. A vacuum tube comprising a filament, an electrode, an insulating block carried by said electrode, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending around said block and connecting with the filament on the near side of said block, said wire having one or more turns in it intermediate its ends.

9. A vacuum tube comprising a filament, grid and plate electrode, an insulating block carried by said plate electrode, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending therefrom around said block, said wire connecting with the filament on the other side of said block.

10. A vacuum tube comprising a filament, grid and plate electrode, an insulating block carried by said plate electrode, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending around said block, said wire connecting with the filament on the other side of said block and having one or more turns in it intermediate its ends.

11. A vacuum tube comprising a filament, grid and plate electrode, an insulating block carried by said plate electrode, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament, said wire being supportingly associated with said filament.

12. A vacuum tube comprising an evacuated vessel, a filament, grid and plate electrode within said vessel, said plate electrode having at its outer end a socket portion adapted to contain an insulating block, a resilient wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending therefrom around said block and connecting with the filament "on the other side of said block.

13. A vacuum tube comprising an evacu ated vessel, a filament, grid and plate electrode within said vessel, said plate electrode having at its outer end a socket portion adapted to contain an insulating block, a resilient Wire fastened to the block at a point other than the point nearest the filament and extending around said block, said wire connecting with the filament on the near side of said block and having one or more turns in it intermediate its ends.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of September, A. D. 1918.

LAWRENCE R. SPENGEMAN. 

